A health Warning (The Indian Express)

Mains Paper 5: Polity
Prelims level: Health
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context

•  The figures on swine flu released by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) cause for concern.
•  In less than a month this year, the highly contagious virus has infected 4,500 people and claimed 169 lives.
•  Taken together with last year’s figures about 15,000 infected and 11,000 deaths.
•  The virulent form assumed by swine flu four years ago led the MoHFW to plan a system for early detection and treatment of viral diseases.
•  A network of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) was envisaged for the purpose.
•  About 80 of the 125 laboratories planned in 2015 are functional.

Way forward

•  However, a report of the MoHFW’s parliamentary standing committee bares serious shortcomings in the running of these laboratories.
•  Moreover, the labs that test swine flu are at the divisional headquarters.
•  This means that patients often have to cover a long distance, and valuable time is lost before the disease gets diagnosed.
•  Non-communicable diseases constitute the major share of the country’s disease burden.
•  However, it is also well-known that urbanisation, mass migration, commerce and overcrowding of towns and cities accelerate the spread of viral pandemics, including swine flu.

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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) The Embassy of India held a ceremony in Haifa to mark the Centenary of the Battle of Haifa when on 23 Sep 1918, Indian soldiers from the Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad Lancers liberated the city of Haifa. The city is located in which of the following country?
A. Palestine
B. Israel
C. Azerbaijan
D. Belgium

Answer: B

Mains Questions:
Q.1) What is the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme? What are the key concerns mentioned in this report?